He is the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. Join us march 23 to hear book columnist michael dirda and rosenbach programs manager edward g. Michael dirda and dickens scholars to give lectures at. This interview with pulitzer prize winning author and literary critic michael dirda is from fast forward. He has been a fulbright fellow and won a pulitzer prize in 1993.
Michael dirda senior editor washington postbook world. Norton, 2003 winner of the 2004 ohioana award for nonfiction. All that kid wants to do is stick his nose in a book, lamented steelworker eugene dirda about his son michael, a shy, bespectacled boy who preferred the pages of thoreau to dating or sports. Hes the author of the memoir an open book, plus four collections of essays. Closing the book on an open book by michael dirda gee, ive been so distracted by all of the ruckus surrounding the high school situation in lorain that i forgot to. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post. In an open book, one of the most delightful memoirs to emerge in years, the all that kid wants to do is stick his nose in a book, michael dirdas steelworker father used to complain, worried about his sons passion for reading.
Pulitzer prizewinner michael dirda shares his love for all literature novels, comic books, poetry, even erotica in this humorous memoir of his childhood. Readings, bound to please, book by book and classics for pleasure. It was a treat to finally get around to reading the book and experience his perception of some of my relatives. Michael is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world with a special love for genre fiction. Coming of age in the heartland 0393326144 book cover. Book by book by michael dirda, may 1, 2007, holt paperbacks edition, paperback in english book by book may 1, 2007 edition open library. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning critic and longtime book columnist for the washington post. His humorous remembrances of the works he loved will spark the interest of anyone who savors a good. Michael dirdas a pulitzer prize winning book critic who ive never met except through his frequent contributions to the washington posts book world, but based on this short memoir, im pretty sure wed be instant friends. Pulitzer prize winning literary critic michael dirda, senior editor of the washington post book.
Michael dirda all that kid wants to do is stick his nose in a book, michael dirdas steelworker father used to complain, worried about his sons passion for reading. Two collections of dirdas literary journalism have been published. Michael dirda interview a love affair with books youtube. Pettit discuss the storytelling of sir arthur conan doyle. He was once chosen by washingtonian magazine as one of the twentyfive smartest people in our nations capital. Readings, bound to please, book by book, and classics for pleasure. His latest book, on conan doyle, won the 2012 edgar award for the best biographicalcritical work of the year from the mystery writers of america. An open book an open book audiobook, by michael dirda.
In 1978 dirda started writing for the washington post. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world and the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. A young boys love affair with great literature sfgate. Michael dirda is a weekly book columnist for the washington post and the author, most recently, of browsings.
Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. Michael dirda audio books, best sellers, author bio. The main part of the story recounts dirdas intellectual progress as he moved through comic strips from the newspaper p. Michael dirda, a weekly book columnist for the washington post, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism. Source for information on dirda, michael 1948 michael dirda, jr. A young boys love affair with great literature norton. Reading is cool, and theres no better proof than michael dirdas an open book. Essays and literary entertainments, dirda assembles fortysix of his best essays all of his book world editorial columns are good to delight the reader who, like him, is an incurable book aficionado. Jonathan hogan growing up in a bluecollar, midwestern household of the 50s and 60s, dirda appalled his father with his insatiable thirst for reading. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books. Pulitzer prizewinning writer michael dirda is one of the main reasons i read the washington post book world every sunday. In an open book, one of the most delightful memoirs to emerge in years, the acclaimed literary journalist michael dirda recreates his boyhood in rustbelt ohio. In an open book, one of the most delightful memoirs to emerge in years, the acclaimed literary journalist michael dirda recreates his boyhood in rustbelt ohio, first in the workingclass town of lorain.
Growing up in a blue collar, midwestern household of the 1950s and 1960s, dirda appalled his father with his insatiable thirst for reading. See all books authored by michael dirda, including book by book. The washington post book worlds pulitzerwinning book critic recalls in evocative prose his nerdy youth in lorain county, ohio dirda readings. Michael dirda, who won a pulitzer prize for distinguished criticism at the washington post book world, is the author of an open book, bound to please, and readings. With total recall for themes, quotes, characters and plot lines, dirda tirelessly records virtually every book he encountered in his young life, covering comic books. Reading was my favorite sport in childhood, maybe because it was the only one that i was good at. Organized by significant life events and abounding with quotations from great writers and thinkers, book by book showcases dirdas capacious love for and understanding of books.
Coming of age in the heartland library of congress. Having studied at oberlin college for his undergraduate degree in 1970, dirda took an m. My family used to say of me, that georgie, always has his nose in a book. A lifelong fan of the sherlock holmes adventures, dirda belongs to the baker street irregulars. Michael dirda, a weekly book columnist for the washington post, is the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. Norton, 2003 and classics for pleasure harcourt, 2007, a. Michael dirda is a cousin of mine, and i remember going to my local borders to hear him speak about this book and get a signed copy. Its essays originally appeared on the home page of the american scholar. A love story, full of a passion for literature and marked by intellectual vigor. In 1993, journalist michael dirda won a pulitzer prize for criticism, and now the senior editor at washington post book world shares a delightful autobiography that blends reportage and commentary.
Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Michael dirda books list of books by author michael dirda. His humorous remembrances of the works he loved will spark the. Michael dirdas memoir of his growing up years is very personal, highly engaging, and by turns, wistful, sad and funny. Michael dirda as you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Contemporary authors, new revision series dictionary. Essays and literary entertainments, 2000 grew up in the home of a bored and bitter steelworker who could not understand why his sons nose was permanently parked in a book. Michael dirda is the weekly book columnist for the washington post, and he received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism for his work. Currently, he is a book columnist for the post in 2002, dirda was invested as a member of the baker street. Growing up in a bluecollar, midwestern household of the 50s and 60s, dirda appalled his father with his insatiable thirst for reading. Chow down on crab cakes with pulitzer prizewinning book.
His book on conan doyle received a 2012 edgar award for best criticalbiographical work of the year. Michael dirda born 1948, a fulbright fellowship recipient, is a pulitzer prizewinning critic. And, michael dirda, with his background of reading, his northern ohio upbringing, brings all that to a memoir that resonates with me, an open book. Still, the elder dirda emerges as a positive force in this marvelous.
An open book by michael dirda norton, 2003 some kids love to play baseball, some love basketball, some track or tennis. Michael dirda is a book critic for the washington post. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. All that kid wants to do is stick his nose in a book, michael dirdas steelworker father used to complain, worried about his sons passion for reading. With its short, snappy chapters, book lust is a must for any serious readers bedside table, a literary nightcap sure to prompt sweet dreams.
Michael dirda, a pulitzer prizewinning book columnist for the washington post, is the author of five collections of essaysreadings, bound to please, book by book, classics for pleasure and browsingsand of the memoir an open book. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world and the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of. Pulitzer prize winner michael dirda shares his love for all literaturenovels, comic books, poetry, even eroticain this humorous memoir of his childhood. Michael dirda browses books that will make you love. In an open book, one of the most delightful memoirs to emerge in years, the acclaimed literary journalist michael dirda recreates his boyhood in rustbelt ohio, first in the workingclass town of lorain, then at oberlin college. Coming of age in the heartland michael dirda, author. Favoring showing as much as telling, dirda draws us deeper into the classics, as well as lesserknown works of literature, history, and philosophy, always with an eye.
A blog about the odd pleasures of the bookish life, with new posts each friday by michael dirda, the pulitzer prizewinning critic with the washington post and the author of several books, including an open book and on conan doyle. After earning a phd in comparative literature from cornell university, the joined the washington post in 1978. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning book critic who writes for the washington post, and has written a number of books about books, authors and book collecting. We follow the pulitzer prizewinning critic from his birth in an ohio mill town to the middle of his years at oberlin college.
283 981 638 337 790 75 1382 449 1443 1361 688 939 1284 395 1517 26 1108 604 1366 175 46 676 878 483 840 399 179 1309 1001 520 1333 116 1147